12.2 SQL Syntax

SQL is a declarative language, which means that it allows you to specify what you want, rather than how to get it. This makes it a high-level language that abstracts away some of the details of the underlying data structure and retrieval methods, allowing you to focus on the data itself. However, this doesn't mean that SQL is not powerful. In fact, with its comprehensive set of operators and functions, SQL can handle complex data manipulations with ease.

The basic structure of a SQL query comprises several components, each of which plays a crucial role in formulating an effective query. These components include clauses, expressions, predicates, and statements. The clauses specify the type of query you want to perform, while the expressions define the data you want to retrieve or manipulate. The predicates, on the other hand, are used to filter the data based on specific criteria, and the statements are used to execute the query and return the results.

While constructing...